Making Macala's Mosaics

THE WEEKLY CAPITALIST

“HOLIDAY” SHOPPING IS REALLY A CELEBRATION OF THE MATERIAL LIFE

BY JEFF HARDING, P. 22

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

RAINBOW GIRLS TOO SEXY? WE SAY NAY; LOVING LOVEMIKANA; PHALLIC FOUNTAIN FUN, P. 4

THE DISH

JASON TULEY’S ANCHOR WOODFIRE KITCHEN OPENS IN HOTEL INDIGO ON LOWER STATE

BY WENDY JENSON, P. 6

SANTA BARBARA

once a week from pier to peak

VO L U M E 1 | I S S U E 1 2 | D E C E M B E R 2 1 – 2 8 | 2 0 1 2

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MAKING MACALA’S MOSAICS

by Matt Mazza

TALKING TURKEY & PUTTING PIECES TOGETHER (Ceramically Speaking)

I

t happens for me this way every year.

Thanksgiving goes down amidst great anticipation and fanfare, I have a fantastic time and really look forward to the season of giving that follows. This year was no different. My brother-in-law and I had a turkey cook-off at my place for a hungry and robust Thanksgiving crowd – mine done traditionally, brined all night in a magical concoction of fresh herbs and spices, skin gently lifted then stuffed with a lovely homemade herb butter, cavity filled with a proprietary blend of fresh vegetables and even some citrus; his done on a barbeque with a beer can stuffed up its behind.

We cooked together all day, talking about turkeys and Thanksgivings past and the then-coming Christmas holiday and even gifts for our wives and children. It was great. I started the holiday season with all the promise and good intention that I always do. Spot on.

(I’ll be damned if his bird didn’t come out better than mine, by the way. He cooked an eighteen-pound beer-can turkey on a fricking Weber in my yard, and the damned thing came out perfect. ‘Twas ...continued p.12

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21 – 28 | 2012

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4 | DECEMBER

21 – 28 | 2012

W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

ONTENTS

Cover P.4 P.5 P.6 P.8 P.10

P.16 P.18 P.19 P.20 P.22 P.23

Mazza’s Mosaic – Matt murders a free-range turkey in a friendly Thanksgiving Day cooking duel and talks with Tami Macala about her wonderful Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art. (Holiday slacker alert: Go buy a workshop or two from the school and watch your friends and lovers swoon over a great gift. Seriously.)

Letters to the Editor – Are the Rainbow Girls really using sex appeal to sell themselves? (Oh, the hypocrisy! Actually, forget it… it’s all good.); Victor’s Secret and Dick’s Sporting Goods come to Paseo Nuevo; Hilary Edwards likes the Mesa Café and LOVEmikana (and the Sentinel too!); and Matt screws up Gauthier’s address (but the mistake gives us another opportunity to run a photo of a beautiful woman hanging from a tree and pouring champagne so we will let it slide… this time).

The Sentinel’s Take – An open letter to Mayor Helene Schneider and Honorable City Councilmembers extends the proverbial olive branch and suggests working together in the New Year. How will the Council respond?

(Hell, we’ll be lucky if they respond at all.)

The Dish – Jason Tuley’s latest creation, Anchor Woodfire Kitchen, is opening after Xmas and we are genuinely excited (the place looks and sounds great, Jason, really… we’ll be in soon); Wendy dishes up a little afternoon delight at Bacara – don’t worry, it’s not what you’re thinking.

It’s (Conspiracy) Crime Time with SBPD – They are after us, and we have proof – a seatbelt ticket for one of our editors in a parking garage on his way to a City Council meeting. (Don’t worry, we won’t be deterred by them.)

Here’s the thing, it’s not just us they want. They are after you too. Be vigilant!

Santa Barbara View – Our streets are actually pretty dangerous, all things considered, and everybody needs to work together to avoid more tragedies, says Sharon Byrne; Ray Estrada covers everything from local startup FuelBox to vegan/vegetarian lifestyles and the SB Chamber of Commerce (impressive breadth, Ray); and View intern Irina Vinarskiy brings us up to speed on the SBYPC – no, that’s not the SB Yuppies Club, it’s the SB Young Professionals Club – and award winner Sara Clark.

Presidio Sports – Barry Punzal previews a hoop tourney and wraps-up the Jim Bashore Holiday Classic and the Navigating High School Sports and College Recruitment roundtable at Laguna Blanca. (Thanks guys.)

Plan B – The holidays are great, but only because of the little tools parents can exploit to control their misbehaved kids. Briana Westmacott isn’t going to let at least one of those game-changers go this time around: Elf on the Shelf is staying for the year. Period.

LOVEmikana – Be Active bird Sarah Dodge helps you start the New Year right – go sign your sorry ass up for the Resolution Run on January 1; delicious chocolate-covered pretzels are great last minute gifts (maybe even make them for Santa and his reindeer!). And check out LOVEmikana’s Weekend Guide as we head into a busy holiday weekend.

Goleta Girl – Old Town’s Goleta Barbers are the shiz-nit. Straight up. So get your hair cut and enjoy some great conversation in an old-school barbershop. (Hey Pete, do you guys do shaves? Publisher Tim Buckley hasn’t been out for a while and needs to get his grubby beard hacked off before Christmas dinner. Jim’s pissed.)

The Weekly Capitalist – Jeff Harding says celebrate materiality, it reflects our very nature and capacity for success and joy. (What? An economist advocating irresponsible consumption? That’s right, Jeff’s the man. Scrooges be damned. Spend, people, spend!)

Residential Real Estate – Condo-fest! Michael Calcagno brings us a few condos this week… and they may just be more attractive than you immediately think. Justin Kellenberger gives us the (relatively) small numbers. We’re in the market! (Actually, we just spent all of our money taking Jeff Harding’s advice, so, no, we’re not.)

Letters

Although you might not believe it, we actually want to hear from you. So if you have something you think we should know about or you see something we've said that you think is cretinous (or perspicacious, to be fair), then let us know. There's no limit on words or subject matter, so go ahead and let it rip to: Santa Barbara Sentinel, Letters to the Editor, 133 East De La Guerra Street, No. 182, Santa Barbara, California 93101. You can also leap into the 21st century and email us at letters@santabarbarasentinel.com.

Rainbow Girls Are Too Sexy?

D

ear Editor, thank you for attempting to cover the local music scene with your article on the so-called Rainbow Girls. My question to them, and the Sentinel: why is it that they continue to feel the need to promote themselves by self-objectifying and calling attention to their bodies? It seems that every day that band posts a new piece of Internet content referring to skinny-dipping, naked ocean swims, etc. If indeed they are a band of talented musicians who just happen to be women, fighting and scratching their way to the top on the basis only of their artistic merits, why the need to promote themselves by appealing to prurient sexual interest of men? Furthermore, why the blatantly sexually suggestive on-stage dancing? And why the beyond-suggestive lyrics to “Old Fashioned Passion,” etc.?

It’s not that I’m uncomfortable with them using the fact that they are all female as a selling point. I’m even OK with them going on record as saying there is an uneven playing field when it comes to the gender of musicians, as they recently did in the Independent. My discomfort sets in when they decry the oppression and subjugation of chauvinism and sexism while simultaneously using facets of chauvinism and sexism to their direct material advantage.

I’m sure they would counter by saying, “Wait! Just because we decide to let the public know when and where we bathe nude communally doesn’t mean we’re trying to use sex to sell ourselves!” In rebuttal, I simply ask the reader to imagine Neil Young, or David Byrne, or Gary Clark Jr., announcing via Facebook that they’re soooo refreshed from their naked yoga session.

Normal?

Warren H. Jeffrisson Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks for the letter, Warren, it’s a fair point succinctly made and I appreciate it. I can’t speak for the Rainbow Girls – indeed, I invite them to respond to your letter themselves – but I can speak for myself in light of my own experiences and understanding.

First, I don’t think the Sentinel “attempted” to “cover the local music scene,” we simply published a piece about a local band that is talented and doing some interesting things.

Second, I’ve listened to the Rainbow Girls’ music and don’t personally find it overly suggestive or “appealing to the prurient sexual interests of men.” Go watch a hip-hop or rockand-roll video. Listen to one of the dozens of country music tunes that involve a rugged cowboy drinking and going skinny-dipping in a creek or lake with women or even other cowboys. My point is only that the Rainbow Girls don’t overly use chauvinism and/or sexism to their direct material advantage, at least certainly no more than others. And what’s wrong with a group of young women looking good and making music about living free and

having fun? Is that alone enough to make an inappropriate appeal to those inordinate interests of men? Maybe the problem is on the other side of that equation.

Third, and finally, no, David Byrne did not use sexuality per se to sell records. (He and the Heads are true favorites of mine, by the way.)

But Byrne was indeed a master of eccentricities that led to commercial success, which he often spoke of not caring about – does that mean that he sold out and exploited his own idiosyncrasies? Is that less of a problem because his hypocrisy wasn’t sexual in nature?

All tough questions, if not interesting ones, and I appreciate the point; I just don’t know how well it applies to this particular band.

Oh, and if I ever think of a naked yoga session involving Gary Clark Jr. again, I will vomit.

Thanks Warren, great letter. – MSM)

The Secret Fountain Regarding the new fountain in Paseo Nuevo, it’s terrific for the new shop coming to the mall: Victor’s Secret.

Ron Atwood Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks Ron. I heard that Dick’s Sporting Goods is coming to Paseo Nuevo as well. – MSM)

The new, frankly phallic fountain at Paseo Nuevo.

The Sentinel and the Mesa Café (and LOVEmikana!)

Matt, it was a pleasure to pick up your new local Santa Barbara newspaper. My fiancé and I frequent the Mesa Café ...continued p.9

1 3 3 E A S T D E L A G U E R R A S T R E E T | N O.1 8 2 | S A N TA B A R B A R A

An Open Letter

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

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To the Honorable Mayor Helene Schneider and Santa Barbara City Councilmembers Grant House, Dale Francisco, Frank Hotchkiss, Harwood “Bendy” White, Randy Rowse and Cathy Murillo

Ms. Murillo Was Right

D

ear Mayor Schneider and Honorable Councilmembers: This letter follows a brief conversation we had before last week’s City Council meeting with Council member Murillo regarding a couple of articles recently published in this column—The Mistreatment of Mr. Higgins (Vol. 1, Issue 7) and Dumb and Dumber (Vol. 1, Issue 8). Ms. Murillo was gracious and reasonable, and quite diplomatically suggested that we may have been a bit harsh in our assessment of the business of running Santa Barbara, that we may have a few things to learn, so to speak, about what Santa Barbara City Council members actually do and how (an admittedly and necessarily bureaucratic) local government functions.

Ms. Murillo’s comments were genuine, intelligent and ultimately well taken, so we went back and re-read the foregoing pieces. And it turns out that we agree with Ms. Murillo in large part, at least in principle.

Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner

We don’t necessarily share the opinion that we were overly harsh in our characterization of the process – we read the agendas, attended the meetings and saw and heard what we saw and heard – but we do agree that we could learn more about the inner workings of Santa Barbara. Although the editors, writers, proofreaders, columnists, and floor sweepers here at this estimable rag are on the whole an over-educated lot, we do our very best to be fair yet honest and straightforward. None of us has served in public office and thus none of us has the first-hand experience that can lead to better understanding of what you folks do. Fact is, none of us can imagine spending all that time behind a dais listening to a bunch of people whimpering and whining about some imagined wrong (or conspiracy) every single week.

Neither of the articles we’ve published regarding the weekly City Council meetings were meant to attack any of you personally. It is the process with which we’ve taken issue; to us, it seems cumbersome, inefficient, and hugely time consuming and, to be honest, our annoyance is that it is all done with the taxpayers’ (our) dimes. So bashing the process may not have been totally fair, even it was honest and not meant to be mean-spirited. (That parking ticket we got while we endured an objectively boring meeting wasn’t really fair either, but we digress.)

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Help Us Help You

Here’s what we suggest: Each of you spend some time – we’ll let your respective schedules and appetites dictate how much and when – with our Editor-in-Chief, Matt Mazza. Take him through the agenda for a weekly meeting or let him buy you a coffee or a lunch and talk through some of the issues that are important to each of you and why.

We will then, in turn, publish a short piece reflecting our experiences and (hopefully) heightened understanding so that others might know more about the people behind the proverbial curtain and how the business of running Santa Barbara gets done. We’ll start a dialogue that way, one that actually informs the public about who you are and what you do and how you each represent the interests of Santa Barbarians far and wide. On the one hand, maybe you’ll show us why so much time is given over to recognizing and acknowledging various public “servants,” who – to us – seem like they’re just doing the work they’ve been paid (by us) to do.

On the other hand, perhaps we’ll see that your days are taken up by constituent service and myriad items that we don’t have a clue about but are probably really important in the smooth running of our fair city.

Our phones and emails are always up and running, and the ball is in your court. Let’s start the New Year off on a new foot (or at least a different one). Happy holidays to every one of you; we do indeed hope to hear from you soon.

– The Sentinel’s Editorial Staff

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6 | DECEMBER

21 – 28 | 2012

W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

Jason Tuley, chef and owner of newly opened Anchor Woodfire Kitchen. (photo: aronivesphoto. com)

by Wendy Jenson A former magazine editor, Wendy worked at

Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, and Us Weekly in NYC, before moving west with Santa Barbara Magazine. Currently a public relations consultant, she relishes being out and about working on this column.

Anchors Aweigh!

T

he Dish eagerly awaits the opening of Anchor Woodfire Kitchen after Christmas. Situated in the stylish Hotel Indigo, the hip restaurant is near the railroad tracks on lower State Street.

Chef and Restaurateur Jason Tuley goes to great lengths to secure the freshest and best, and his menus rely on locally sourced ingredients. The house-made pastas – four varieties are prepared every day – have never been in a refrigerator, not even for a second.

Chef Tuley’s repertoire boasts some 100 types of pasta.

Many dishes are slow roasted in the restaurant’s showpiece wood oven. “Almond

wood is used for its consistent burn,”

Jason explains. “It burns more evenly than oak which is used for the flavor.” Oven temperatures can reach 1,000 degrees, where regular cooking is usually done between 650 and 700 degrees.

Jason canned 650 pounds of heirloom over the summer. Three varietals tomatoes now sit in mason jars on a shelf in the dining room, and other shelves contain

jars of pecans and sesame, firewood, and cookbooks (Bacon is one of the many tempting titles). Jason also turned a 350-pound pig from Devil’s Gulch Ranch into salami.

At breakfast, juices are fresh squeezed, and coffee is sacred. The brand Handlebar Coffee Roasters is served with Strauss Family cream. Anchor’s take on Eggs Benedict is local rock crab, poached eggs, tarragon Hollandaise, and frisée-cured lemon salad, $12.

The menu is broken down into appetizers, pasta, pizza, entrées, farmers market sides, spare parts, cured and cheese. Rather than the usual starch, vegetable and protein, entrées are served “with an accompaniment or condiment,” says Jason. Wood grilled whole local fish acqua pazza (crazy water) is one example, $34. Six flavors of ice cream are made daily and “spun to order.” Small Endings are good for sharing with a mini cupcake, macaroon, cookie, brownie and gelée, $11.

Tuley was sous chef at Citronelle and

Anchor Woodfire Kitchen’s dining room prior to opening. (photo: aronivesphoto.com)

San Ysidro Ranch. He owned Square One for seven years, and studied food for a spell in Mexico City. He and his wife, Willow Tuley, have a daughter Lulu, age 2.

The physical restaurant was readied in a quick three months and five days. It’s green to boot. Willow worked on the décor, which manages to be both rustic and modern. An exposed brick wall looks cool, and wood trimmed mirrors fill the opposing wall. The

thick wood tables and long bar were once a barn in Petaluma. Upholstered chairs are covered with a striking black and white zigzag print. Glass lights with revealed bulbs glow overhead.

Pastry Chef Kylie Smith bakes Italian ciabatta and focaccia in the wood oven,

and makes doughnuts, brioches, bagels, cornbread and cheesecake.

There’s even a line of custom plates and vases from Ojai-based artist Sandra Torres.

Her fine porcelain ware is sea themed (think fine-lined starfish and sand dollars) and for sale. The restaurant’s anchor logo is on the underside of each piece.

A forty-seat patio awaits street widening proposed by La Entrada Project. The long dormant parcels are now owned by Developer Michael Rosenfeld.

Aptly titled Anchors Away is the event or catering division. A mobile setup with a wood grill and smoker recreates the restaurant experience.

Anchor Woodfire Kitchen is open six days a week from 7 am to midnight, and

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1 3 3 E A S T D E L A G U E R R A S T R E E T | N O.1 8 2 | S A N TA B A R B A R A

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

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livinghappy livinghealthy

Squid Ink spaghettini, one of Chef Tuley’s creations. (photo: aronivesphoto. com)

n Gree Black Friday prices till year-end!

on Sunday for brunch from 7 am to 5 pm and dinner from 5 pm to close. Located at 119 State Street; 805-845-0989; anchorwoodfirekitchen.com.

Afternoon Delight As they should be, the teas are the highlight of Afternoon Tea at Bacara. Three polished silver samovars contain today’s delights from Ronnefeld, a specialty tea company founded in Frankfurt in 1823.

Start with a ginger, lemongrass, licorice and lemon verbena tea. Classic Indian Chai is up next. Finish with “Equilibrium,” containing South African Rooibos, chamomile and honey.

Tea here is traditional with a pretty presentation. The first two teas are paired with fancy tea sandwiches by white-haired Executive Chef David Reardon. No bread crusts here. More like caviar and figs. Crunchy curry chicken salad with raisins stood out. Equilibrium tea came with a cookie, cupcake, macaroon, scone and mincemeat tart (Wikipedia defines mincemeat as a mix of ground dried fruit, distilled spirits and spices).

Race if you must, but secure the fireside leather chairs in Bacara’s big lobby. There you’ll be warmed by a wood fire and the lights of the Christmas tree art installation.

The eye-drawing 12-foot piece by local

Happy, healthy living for every season.

Mattresses & Bedding • Home Improvement • Home Decor Garden & Outdoor • Home Maintenance • Baby & Kids • Gifts

The best seat in the house? The one in front of the wood-burning fireplace in Bacara’s lobby. The tree’s brass butterfly ornaments by David Shelton are for sale at Bacara; $40. Proceeds benefit the Gaviota Coast Conservancy.

(Photo by Wendy Jenson)

artist David Shelton features sculpted steel and hand-blown glass, the latter by Saul Alcaraz.

Afternoon tea is $35 for adults, and $15 for children. Take Exit 110, the one after Storke Road, in Goleta; 805-968-0100; bacararesort.com.

Eagerly awaiting tips, tips, tips: If you have any restaurant information, please contact me at wendy@santabarbarasentinel. com.

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21 – 28 | 2012

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It'sCrimetime... ...with the SBPD

A variety of crimes are committed every day in Santa Barbara; most of these crimes are petty but they do offer a window into if not the soul of the perpetrator, at least his or her thought process. Our following (and totally unsolicited) thoughts, observations, and comments are put forth for your consideration.

Another Grassy Knoll

W

e’ll set the record straight at the outset: The Sentinel is decidedly anti-conspiracy theory and conspiracy theorist. We’ve seen the documentaries about 9/11 and JFK and the bankers and the fiat currency and the roots of Christianity in paganism (or, more curiously, as a Roman invention) and peak oil and, while some of the information they provide is very interesting, we typically find ourselves walking away scratching our heads.

We’re just not convinced that they all fit together into some tortured Byzantine plot to explain why the wealthy and governmental elite (redundant, we know) have killed innocent citizens to cause mass hysteria in a concerted effort to hold onto money and power.

It just doesn’t add up.

Maybe the answer is simpler. Maybe there was no other gunman on or behind the grassy knoll. Maybe Neil Armstrong really did walk on the moon! And maybe our own government didn’t commit unbelievable atrocities for the benefit of a few insane rich guys.

No, we don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories here at the Sentinel. We’re no lunatic fringe group. We’re just a free weekly newspaper trying our best to build community and give back to a place we love tremendously.

So why are they after us?

The Man Is Watching CRIME: A Sentinel editor was driving from SBPD on Figueroa to Santa Barbara City Hall

on Anacapa – just a few short blocks – at around 1:40 pm on Tuesday, December 18, when he was pulled over inside a parking garage by an officer (who was riding a motorcycle, and presumably not wearing a seatbelt); our esteemed editor was ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt… inside a parking garage. After providing a valid California driver’s license (including proof of address change with the DMV), current registration and proof of insurance, he was issued a ticket for failing to belt up. (Can you say Peter Lance?)

OBSERVATION: The traffic stop was made in the parking garage on Ortega, behind Dargan’s and the Habit. The officer left his lights on and flashing in a brilliant display for all to see throughout the entirety of the experience, making quite a show out of giving somebody a seatbelt ticket. The irony of the whole thing was that there were two disheveled young men with a rough-looking dog sitting on the ground just outside the lot smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette – it certainly smelled like one – for the duration of the stop.

Either Officer Frank Poncherello was severely nasally congested or he was fine ignoring the pot-smokers just fifty feet away. Our editor did not point the young men out.

COMMENT: Over the past couple months, we’ve developed a pattern. We go to SBPD each and every Tuesday to take notes on the media stack – an aggregation of police arrests and other reports – for this very column, then we drive down to City Hall for the weekly City Council meeting. Apparently, they’ve been watching, recording our pattern, waiting for the right moment to hit us. Yeah sure, this week it was an innocuous little seatbelt ticket but what will next week bring? And the week after? They’re plotting against us, we know it, we can feel it.

But we won’t back down. They don’t scare us.

We’re going to fight that ticket.

Big Brother Is Watching, Too CRIME: An 18-year-old Santa Barbara resident attempted to steal a bottle of Ciroc vodka from a local store. He was caught by store personnel as he walked out the door, but was able to run away. He was eventually apprehended by SBPD, though, and arrested for commercial burglary and vandalism.

OBSERVATION: So, if he ran and got away, how did the cops catch him? And why the

vandalism charge? It turns out that the kid left his backpack at the scene. All it contained was the bottle of vodka and a cell phone. SBPD searched the backpack, found the phone, unlocked it, saw the owner’s name in a pre-filled Facebook log-in screen, searched DMV records and ultimately discovered the young man’s name, driving history and everything else about him. They also found over 50 images on the cell phone depicting prolific graffiti “tags” around town (thus the vandalism charge).

COMMENT: Wow. And we’re all worried about Smart Meters. Try cell phones and Facebook and internet searches and online shopping and banking and every single other thing you do with your computer or tablet or cell phone or whatever. They are watching, man, seriously, and there is nothing you can do about it. And they are even better than the cops – they don’t even need your cell phone to get loads of information about you and your family. They can look you up on their database and know all. They can steal your identity or erase it. They can take your money. They can take over your life without ever coming within fifty miles of you.

Be vigilant!

Conspiracy Of Drunken Fools Editor-in-Chief • Matt Mazza Design/Production • Trent Watanabe Advertising/Sales • Tanis Nelson • Sue Brooks Contributing Partners Opinion • sbview.com Sports • Presidiosports.com Santa Barbara Skinny • LoveMikana.com Columnists Goleta Girl • Jana Mackin She Has Her Hands Full • Mara Peters Plan B • Briana Westmacott The Dish • Wendy Jenson Journal Jim • James Buckley Real Estate • Michael Calcagno Commercial Corner • Austin Herlihy The Weekly Capitalist • Jeff Harding Man About Town • Mark Leisure Published by SB Sentinel, LLC, Tim Buckley, Publisher PRINTED BY NPCP INC., SANTA BARBARA, CA Santa Barbara Sentinel is compiled every Friday 133 EAST DE LA GUERRA STREET, #182, Santa Barbara 93101 How to reach us: 805.845.1673 E-MAIL: matt@santabarbarasentinel.com

CRIMES: An interesting array of seemingly disparate arrests was made over the weekend – but there’s more than meets the eye. Can you see what’s happening here?

A 48-year-old mansient was moderately intoxicated and “stated that he would do anything to go to jail, including running into traffic naked.” He was arrested and brought to jail.

A lightly intoxicated 47-year-old Goleta resident was found bashing his head into a wall on upper State, repeating that he “wanted to hurt someone.” He was arrested.

A 20-year-old SB resident was found with a bottle of gin and immediately admitted to SBPD that he had stolen it. He was arrested.

A 37-year-old SB man was moderately intoxicated and was “trying to start fights with minorities.” He was arrested.

Finally, a 52-year-old Mesa man nearly sideswiped a moving cop car while “changing lanes.” SBPD hit the lights and sirens and followed the man for six whole blocks until he pulled over. He blew at 0.3 (wow) and was arrested and taken to jail for DUI and evading.

(Evading might be a little much here – the guy was so drunk he probably didn’t even know the cops were behind him.)

OBSERVATION: Do Not Pass Go; Go Directly To Jail. What’s that? You don’t see what’s happening here? Running into traffic naked just to get thrown into jail? Slamming your own head into a wall? A minor admitting that he stole a bottle of gin before he was even asked?

Picking fights with “minorities” and other members of the protected classes? Sideswiping a police car? C’mon people, every one of the abovementioned miscreants did something bad enough to be thrown into jail, but not so bad that any one of them would spend any real time in the slammer. They were obviously in search of a clean bed, free Cable TV or The Movie Channel, three squares, maybe medical attention. And, let’s be honest, it’s been cold out there. Nothing like a centrally heated jail cell on a damp and chilly Santa Barbara night.

So, remember our holiday admonition: be nice… but be vigilant!

COMMENT: It’s all connected. There are forces at work all around you seeking to influence

your behavior and decision-making. Don’t fall for it. And don’t tell anybody, but we have built a secret bunker and have stuffed it full of food, fuel, and Kool Aid. Come join us…take a sip.

Merry Christmas everybody. (Is your family plotting against you in the other room? Be vigilant!)

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...continued from 4 Saturday mornings and, as I usually pick up the paper, I found yours. I used to live off of Cota and was very happy to read the Milpas holiday article. I also had the good fortune of working on a few events with Kim Wiseley and am a HUGE fan of LOVEmikana.

Here’s wishing you continued success and a very happy holiday!

Hilary S. Edwards Manager of University Relations Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara (Editor’s Note: Thanks for the letter and kind words, Hilary, I’ve spent an occasional Saturday morning at the Mesa Café myself.

Great spot for breakfast and a coffee – or a mimosa – and a newspaper. Kim and the gang at LOVEmikana are lovely, and I too am a huge fan. Please do keep reading and know that we appreciate the support. For now, happy holidays. – MSM)

Corrections Department Dear Matt: All of us here at Jewelry

by Gauthier, located at 921 State Street, look forward to the Sentinel’s publication every week. We were especially happy to receive the December 7 – 14 issue regarding the party we threw in Scottsdale that you attended. Each December, Scott Gauthier unveils his annual collection in a gala setting where clients from around the world have the opportunity to meet the award-winning designer and view his unique and highly sought-after pieces. Besides the fact that Scott introduces the most beautiful jewelry to the civilized world inside and outside of Scottsdale, he really knows how to throw a party! Some years we have elephants walking down the main drag and other times just beautiful women hanging from trees pouring champagne.

Scott has been recognized with numerous awards that have earned international acclaim. As a four-time winner of the Spectrum Award, he was the youngest designer to ever receive it. He also won the National Design Award sponsored by the American Pearl Company and others sponsored by the Arizona Jewelers Association. Further, as owner and designer, Scott has grown his brand, Gauthier, into one of the nation’s top ten independent jewelers. His international clientele ranges from prominent social figures to the women of Sex & the City.

All of this is leading up to the last paragraph of your article. You were encouraging people to drop into our store on State Street in lovely downtown Santa Barbara and say hello to Scott. Unfortunately, you printed an address of an empty storefront. This is to inform you that our correct address is 921 State Street. If people would like to stop in to see Gauthier’s exotic jewelry collection, we are open seven days a week from 11am to 7pm (except Sundays, when we are open from noon to 5pm). We welcome any and all to come check us out.

China van den Akker Graduate Gemologist Jewelry by Gauthier (Editor’s Note: Ah… thanks China, I guess I don’t know exactly what to say. The truth is that I worked at 905 State Street for a couple

r e s t a u r a n t unique mexican dining experience

Yes, that is a beautiful woman hanging from a tree pouring champagne at Gauthier’s Scottsdale Gala. China is no liar.

years when I first moved to Santa Barbara. It was then Baccio, a lovely little restaurant that closed years ago – it is now indeed an empty storefront. Please accept my apologies for the mistake. Gauthier is just up the block at 921 State and, like I’ve said before, it is wellworth checking out. That’s especially the case now for those of you who’ve failed to do any holiday shopping yet this year. Please pass my best wishes along to Scott, Coco and Michelle, and enjoy the season. See you soon… I’ve still some shopping to do and that aquamarine cat’s eye piece has my name on it. And yes, Scott does know how to throw a party. Quite a party indeed. – MSM)

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Opinion, stories, events, and people that shape Santa Barbara

sbview.com

Milpas on the Move

Sharon Byrne

by Sharon Byrne

sbview.com

Road Safety – It’s Everyone’s Responsibility

“M

om, you’re not stressed out…”

My daughter said these words to me as we crawled up the 405 from LAX. That level of traffic and glacial pace would have had me swearing once upon a time.

Why not now?

I’d like to point to Zen training, or firm resolutions to control stress reactions, but really it’s because the 405 is so much less stressful than driving on some Santa Barbara streets.

Once you stop laughing, think about it.

On the freeway, you’re between concrete barriers with a million other drivers trying to get somewhere at the same time. It’s six lanes of everyone heading in one direction.

The job is to avoid the stopped lanes, and the only maneuver required is easing over to the exit ramp.

Hyper-vigilance is necessary when behind the wheel in our fair city.

a relatively new miscue – the southbound one-way De La Vina turns two-way at that intersection. Northbound drivers trying to turn right on Haley face head-on into southbound drivers who think that their left turn onto Haley is protected because they were driving one-way up to that point.

Another miscued intersection is found on Gutierrez at Chapala. Straight-ahead and right-turn drivers would think they could accomplish both tasks from a right lane.

But they’d be wrong. A bulb-out obliterated much of the former right turn lane off Gutierrez. Now you need to be in the former left-turn lane to go straight ahead.

Weird striping serves as your only guide.

You face into oncoming traffic, forced to cut diagonally in front of the car that really should be going straight ahead, but now

Slow down, you never know when a pedestrian is about to step into a crosswalk.

One of the miscued intersections in Santa Barbara: Gutierrez and Chapala.

Contrast that with our morning carpool to Santa Barbara High along Canon Perdido. Pedestrians cross the street midblock, darting out from between parked vehicles. The intersection at the school on Canon Perdido is crowded with students in crosswalks, commuters trying to make it downtown, and parents seeking to edge across Canon Perdido onto the school grounds. I feel I’ve navigated a dangerous obstacle course, with lives literally hanging in the balance, when we’ve arrived at school without hitting anyone.

That’s stressful. Compared to that, the 405 is easy street.

In all of these instances, the drivers were found to be not at fault, and alcohol was not involved. We can get indignant over pedestrians and bikes not following road rules for safety. But if we hit someone, even if we were obeying all the rules and they weren’t, we’d likely never get over the resulting trauma. Better to drive slow, look around, make eye contact with pedestrians and bicyclists whenever possible, than insist on being right. Being ‘right’ is cold comfort when someone ends up maimed or dead.

Bicyclists and pedestrians, you need to realize that you are crossing at your own risk, that you are literally taking your life into your own hands. Do you want to be insistent that you too can use the road as you see fit… or do you want to live? Being considerate and aware extends one’s lifespan, and spares others the trauma of preventable accidents.

Our quirky city has some intersections that miscue as well. Haley at De La Vina is

Slow Down, Santa Barbara Driving in our quirky city requires more than just regular road safety adherence. It requires hyper-vigilance. You should go slow, even below the speed limit, because there is so much going on: pedestrians attempting to

Sharon Byrne is executive director for the Milpas Community Association, and currently serves on the Advisory Boards for the Salvation Army Hospitality House and Santa Barbara County Alcohol and Drug Problems.

cross, sometimes against the lights, or with earbuds in, not bothering to check if a car is coming. You need to watch for bicyclists coming down a hill or off a sidewalk, veering straight into an intersection with crosstraffic.

Speed limits are fairly low in this city.

Milpas is 30 mph, Guterriez and Haley are 25. De La Vina has a 20 mph zone. Drivers routinely tailgate on these roads, and zoom around others to get there all of 5 seconds faster, righteous in their rush.

A recent spate of accidents illustrates people not being considerate, or even aware, of others using the road too. A woman was killed on her bicycle on Milpas, riding in the dark, with no lights on, facing into oncoming traffic. Another woman chased her dog onto the freeway at Milpas, and was struck multiple times. A bicyclist was hit as she ran a stoplight, in the dark with earbuds in. And a child was struck on Salinas as he darted out into the road.

must turn right.

Warning: CHP loves to bust people who get completely miscued at that intersection.

When you’re out and about, whether walking, riding, or driving, be safe, go slow, obey the rules of the road, make eye contact with drivers, pedestrians and bikes, and yield appropriately.

Above all, arrive alive and in one piece.

Business Beat

by Ray Estrada

SBCC Grads Start FuelBox

A

South Coast-based startup company called FuelBox, founded by Santa Barbara City College graduates Robert Herr and Dan Friedman, is just about ready for its big launch.

Herr and Friedman want to help mobile device users simplify their re-charging needs in homes and offices, and to help

1 3 3 E A S T D E L A G U E R R A S T R E E T | N O.1 8 2 | S A N TA B A R B A R A

Ray Estrada

Ray Estrada is a writer, editor and media consultant who has worked for newspapers, radio news, wire services and online publications for the past 40 years. He has taught journalism at the University of Southern California and now runs his own consulting business based in Santa Barbara.

sbview.com

those who are out and about to make sure their cell phones never run out of power.

They are developing a safe way that would allow people to charge their mobile devices anywhere that offers Wi-Fi. “After a year of designing and developing the solution to charging mobile devices, the dream is finally becoming a reality,” Herr said. “Raising seed capital is tough when you are young and have no credibility, but through determination, FuelBox recently found the funding and is on its way to success.”

Working out of Synergy Business & Technology Center, the business incubator created by architect Michael Holliday, the SBCC grads are working with engineer John Stump in development of their system.

The company has partnered with a local nonprofit for installation services. Herr and Friedman are set to launch FuelBox beginning of the New Year. One of the first businesses to offer their service may be The Habit Burger Grill.

“Almost everyone relies on mobile devices for communication, business and navigation in unfamiliar places,” Friedman said. “Ten years ago, cell phone batteries lasted a week at a time; however, today power-hungry mobile devices are drained before the day is over.” This is a problem because batteries seem to die at the most inconvenient times, Friedman said. Heavy reliance on mobile devices increased while the battery life has gone down. “To make matters worse, current charging methods are insufficient and the solution has not been found, until now,” he said.

Instead of creating another charging accessory to plug into a wall outlet, the FuelBox founders decided to redesign the outlet. “What if the charger you needed was always there, built into the wall socket?”

Friedman said. “And what if it was neatly organized inside the wall socket so it wasn’t dangling unattractively out of the wall and posing as a hazard? That’s the beauty of FuelBox.” During an autumn day on Santa Barbara’s Mesa, Erik Stucky lost his phone charger again. As he was rummaging around the room looking for it, he said to Herr, his roommate, “Man, I wish there was just a charger that was built into the wall.” That’s when the light bulb sparked over Herr’s head. What if the charger was just built into the wall outlet, was organized internally, and extended out when you needed it?

At that time, Herr, Friedman, and Stucky were part of an entrepreneurial club called Students in Free Enterprise at SBCC. They were working with a different startup venture, but after a couple weeks of exploring

the remote charging idea, they decided to put their previous venture on hold and run with FuelBox instead.

Nutritionist Caters to Vegan, Vegetarian Life Styles South Coast resident Melissa Costello, founder of Karma Chow and creator of “The Vital Life Cleanse,” is the personal chef to celebrity fitness guru Tony Horton.

A certified nutritionist and wellness coach, Costello seeks ways to keep her clients happy, fit and healthy through a whole-food, plant-based way of life. She works one-on-one with clients and leads 30day, food-based cleanses with large groups.

Costello was featured on “TV Guide’s Secrets of the Hollywood Body” as well as CNBC’s “How I Made My Millions with Tony Horton.”

“The more than seven million vegetarians and three million vegans in the United States are proving that chowing down on planet-friendly fare not only helps them look and feel better, but it can be delicious, too,” Costello said.

In her new book, The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook, Costello shares more than 125 recipes for anyone who is vegetarian or vegan and for the growing number of people embracing more plantbased meals. Costello finds creative ways to keep her clients happy, fit and fueled.

With her “keep it simple” and “make it tasty” approach, she offers a smorgasbord of dairy-free and animal-free appetizers and desserts, breakfasts and dinners, as well as holiday- and company-worthy menus.

Recipes include: Mac & Cheeze, Karma Burgers with Chipotle “Mayo,” Thai-Style Tempeh Lettuce Wraps, Supreme-Oh Burritos, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Korean-Style Tempeh Tacos with Red Dijon Slaw, Enchilada Casserole with Ranchero Sauce, Artichoke and White Bean Dip, Cilantro Cauliflower Smash, Pad Thai in Peanut Coconut Sauce, Stuffed Mushroom Poppers, Indian Spiced Coconut Yam Soup, Chili Sweet Potato Fries, Un-Shepherd’s Pie, Strawberry Crème Mousse with Pistachio Nut Topping, Banana Carob Bread Pudding, Apple-Pear Crisp, Brownie Bites, Chocolate Truffles, and Cardamom Chocolate Chippers (a Tony Horton favorite).

The Karma Chow Ultimate Cookbook (HCI Books, $18.95) shows readers how to reconnect with their food and honor it as Earth’s source for keeping us alive – all while finding it easier to rock their workouts and sculpt a well-defined physique,” Costello said. “It’s a winning recipe for success for anyone looking to transition to a healthier way of life.” For more information, visit http://karmachow.com

SB Chamber Membership Rebounds Zoe Taylor, interim Santa Barbara Region Commerce of Commerce chief, is expected to continue her reconstruction of the South Coast’s oldest and largest business

organization.

Taylor told Santa Barbara View she will be at the helm for a few months longer than she expected when she took charge after the abrupt retirement of 24-year chamber chief Steve Cushman. The search for a permanent replacement continues.

Meanwhile, chamber board chairwoman Janet Garufis, of Montecito Bank & Trust, is completing her term as Scott Hadley, managing partner of Bartlett Pringle & Wolf, prepares to take over the job in the New Year.

And, the chamber membership director, Scott Ericson, said more about two dozen members have joined the group since he started his job two months ago. He said this is in part because of a restructured dues and benefits program.

The chamber lost hundreds of members during the past four years, in part because of the recession and declining confidence in the group by its members, which once totaled some 1,800 businesses.

Other business groups, such as the local chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, actually flourished during the past five years.

NAWBO-SB started with 30 members and had reached about 160 this year before stalling.

Sara Clark Receives SB Young Professional of the Year Award

by Irina Vinarskiy

T

he Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club held its 16th annual holiday gala at the Granada Theatre. Mayor Helene Schneider presented the award to Sara Clark for her numerous contributions to the city and a check for $2,500 to the Santa Barbara Street Medicine organization for its work.

“We have many great nonprofit

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

11

Santa Barbara Young Professional of the Year Award recipient Sara Clark with J.J. Lambert, Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club President

organizations in Santa Barbara and so many individuals that give and are involved in the community, but it is especially important to support the young working professionals who work full-time and also contribute,” the mayor told Santa Barbara View.

The Young Professionals Club, which holds meet-ups every month and two larger events – one in the summer and a gala during the holidays – allows young professionals in Santa Barbara to support nonprofit causes in the community by raising funds throughout the year. This month’s gala featured live jazz music, photo booths and casino games.

Young professionals from ages 21 to 45 filled the Granada’s McCune Founders Room for the annual gala to see the presentation of the club’s annual award.

Ballroom gowns, black suits, hors d’oeuvres provided by Arlington Tavern, and cocktails and desserts from Anderson’s Danish Restaurant were highlights of the evening.

The event officially ended at midnight, giving young professionals in town a chance to mingle, socialize and raise funds for the needs of the community at large. Proceeds from the sold-out event supported Santa Barbara Street Medicine, the featured charity for the club in December.

A Santa Barbara view photo by Bill Heller.com

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MAZZA’S MOSAIC

by Matt Mazza ...continued from cover truly an amazing culinary feat. Mine was over-cooked, unbelievably – I love to spend time in the kitchen and roast fowl to near perfection fairly regularly. Not this time, though, I killed my beautiful free-range bird with a burst of heat near the end in an effort to get the timing right with other dishes – including my brother-in-law’s turkey that was ready an hour early. (“Coals are just unpredictable,” he smirked.) I’m nothing if not a sore loser but, for the record, it was nearly unanimous that despite his tender, juicy super-bird, my dry one had the better flavor. Dead heat, Uncle Ryan, told you! I know, I should be past this. But I’m not.)

Anyway, here’s the problem. Even despite typically fantastic starts and good intentions, my Decembers always devolve into overly busy end-of-year pushes to get business-related stuff done. This takes many forms for a litigation attorney, none of them particularly pleasant. All of them particularly time-consuming. I hear everybody say that things slow down in December… but that just has not been my experience in the past decade. Not by a long shot.

That (sad) state of affairs always leaves me in the same predicament. It’s December 20, and I haven’t bought a single gift.

I know, I know. I’m a bad guy. A bad husband. A bad son. A bad dad. But I try to be good, I really do. And every year I end up sprinting full-out into every single place I can think of that might house surprise treasures for my wife and kids and everybody else on my list. And I get it done.

Barely.

This year is no different. With a newspaper

and a busy law practice raging toward the New Year, I haven’t exactly been strolling the malls and perusing the boutiques sipping Sauvignon Blanc while searching for that perfect gift. But I’ve been thinking. I’ve been planning. And I know where I’m going.

I’ll probably just get there late on December 22.

Holiday Slackers, Unite!

I also happen to know that I’m not the only one who consistently runs into this situation. In fact, I know that there are a precious few poor schmucks out there who are busier than I am – I actually don’t know that but like to imagine it’s true – and I feel for them. Deeply. I want them to enjoy their holiday, to get that look of wonder and surprise when they present their gifts. So I have decided to share a secret. One that will help. One that will actually make you look like you put some thought out here. Trust me. This is no run-of-the-mill ordinary present, my friends, and it is guaranteed to delight. You have my word on it.

A Gift That Keeps on Giving I inadvertently came across a cool thing a few weeks back. A very cool thing.

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DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

Type to enter text

13

New Year’s Eve at Maggie’s

Rich and Jennifer Swank of Thousand Oaks are hard at work laying out their tabletop.

Diane Arnold came up from the Mesa to make some art and celebrate her sister’s birthday with friends.

1996, a hairdresser-friend on one of those shows invited Tami to learn how to do mosaics, and Tami accepted.

She’s never stopped since.

In fact, you may have seen some of her work. In 1999, Tami founded All Cracked Up Mosaics, and began doing commissioned work all over Santa Barbara.

She has pieces in Cava, EOS Lounge and at MacKenzie Park, as well as in many private residences throughout the area. (She even did extensive work in 19 treatment rooms at a Ritz Carlton in Coconut Grove, Florida.)

Tami is a busy working artist, for sure.

“It’s a real passion,” Tami told me quite matter-of-factly over a pleasant coffee at The French Press, “I do it because I love creating art.”

But you don’t need to commission Tami to create some beautiful and relaxing mosaic above your bathtub for a holiday gift. (Although that might not be a bad idea.) Instead, you can sign your significant other or friend up for one of Tami’s terrific mosaic art workshops through her latest

Riviera resident Valerie Wyman cut much tile for her conch.

(Nice work Valerie!)

venture, Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art. Better yet, sign yourself and your friend or significant other up and spend a couple days learning the art and creating something beautiful together.

You won’t regret it.

I actually went to one of her workshops a few weeks back just to check it out, and found something truly unique and special.

Tami teaches the classes in her home studio out in a quiet Goleta neighborhood, and the vibe is very supportive, creative and fun. There are tons of materials available, and Tami takes her students through the fundamentals of mosaic art in a very relaxed and approachable way. In the workshop I saw, people were designing and crafting mosaic tabletops over a weekend.

And they all were loving it.

Rich and Jennifer Swank – chemist winemakers themselves – drove up from Thousand Oaks to take the course. It was their second at the Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art. (A majority of Tami’s students ...continued p.14

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W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

...continued from 13 Kim Flory and sisters Diane and Joanie Arnold (left to right) celebrate Joanie’s birthday over a few snacks on a break.

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Friends Maureen Hunau-Herman (right) and Barbara Bail enjoy a moment away from the tiles on day one…

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…but Maureen is right back to it on day two.

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Jennifer Swank gets close to completing an intricate tabletop design.

return for multiple experiences.) “It’s a happy struggle,” Jennifer confided with a smile, “and Tami is fantastic.”

Valerie Wyman, who lives up on the Riviera and was also attending her second class with Tami, echoed the sentiment as she worked on an intricate conch design for her tabletop. “Tami is supportive, creative and knowledgeable – and she makes it fun.”

Kim Flory (Noleta) and sisters Diane and Joanie Arnold (from the Mesa and Alaska, respectively) were there to celebrate Diane’s birthday, laughing and chatting as they each designed their individual pieces. (Cue more gushing about Tami and the workshop.)

Tami Macala helps Barbara Bail get her tabletop in place – Barbara was truly thrilled and kept saying how she couldn’t believe how cool the damned thing came out. (She was right.)

Maureen Hunau-Herman (Oxnard) and friend Barbara Bail (Agoura Hills) were doing and saying the same.

It was quite a scene there in Tami’s openair home studio. And when I went back on the second day of the class, everyone was

1 3 3 E A S T D E L A G U E R R A S T R E E T | N O.1 8 2 | S A N TA B A R B A R A

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

Special 3-Course XMAS EVE MENU Monday, December 24th starting at 5pm ($55/person).

Check our Facebook page for full menu options and details.

Make your reservation today!

just as enthusiastic and excited about the finished products as they were on the first.

The tabletops all looked great, and there was quite a bit of what seemed to be pleasant surprise on the faces of the students.

And through it all, Tami gave pointers and advice (and help!) when needed, effortlessly, easily. She made everybody feel comfortable and relaxed, and that, in turn, led to some pretty cool artwork and attitudes.

I’m telling you, this is a no-brainer gift that all involved will enjoy. And even if you don’t do it for Christmas or Hanukah or whatever, look Santa Barbara School of Mosaic Art up in the New Year and sign up for a workshop. You’ll be glad you did.

Tami does a beginner workshop the first weekend of every month – there is one coming up on January 5 and 6 – but all courses can be tailored to accommodate all skill levels. She also does courses on Mexican Smalti, Glass Fusing and Mosaics, Garden Spheres and Boulders and, of course, tabletops. There are a number of recognized and respected guest artists coming through the school and teaching workshops in 2013, too.

For more details check out www. santabarbaraschoolofmosaicart.com or give me a call and I will get you in touch with Tami. You can see some of her commissioned work at www.allcrackedupmosaics.com, as well.

Stuff I Like

I like Spencer the Gardener and his alter ego, the Organic Gangster. The Gangster is playing songs for kids – they are great, trust me, I still catch my own kids singing “Don’t… eat… genetically modified food,” a true classic – at Brunch at the Brewhouse on Montecito Street, Saturday, December 22, around noon. Bring the family down, it’s going to be fun for sure. You never know what cool stuff will go down at a show like this at the Brewhouse. I’ll even consider buying you a drink for Christmas. (If you’re nice.)

I also like shows at SOhO, and a good one is coming up on December 31. ALO – a groove-funk-jam band with roots at UCSB – is partnering up with LoaTree – Le Cirque du Libération to bring you dazzling lights, unforgettable spectacles and epic musical feats. You are the circus, so dress accordingly – think circus performer, merrymaker, jolly clown, sparkly ringmaster or a beast in need of liberation. ALO will be

playing a couple full sets with guest singersongwriter guitarist Huckle. Should be… fun. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

Finally, I like my wife, Wendi, and our daughters, Lily and Kate. I also like our dog Bucky, even if he’s getting a little old. And our chickens – Bertha, Buttercup, Goa and New York (the last was named by Kate) – are cool too. I plan on spending some time with them over the next couple weeks. Maybe we’ll play a little Pretty Pretty Princess or some Monopoly. Or maybe we’ll get out for a wintery beach walk or some time at a local park. It’s the holidays so take a few moments to appreciate the ones you love.

Recent atrocities should remind us all what is most important in life. Don’t take it for granted. It isn’t.

Warmth, love, peace, compassion. From my family to yours.

December 24th 7 p.m.

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Christmas Day Worship

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Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner 129 E Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Phone: 805-882-0050 8am-10pm Sunday-Thursday 8am-11pm Friday & Saturday

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16 | D E C E M B E R

21 – 28 | 2012

W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

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www.presidiosports.com Presidio Sports is a provider of local sports news and information for the Santa Barbara community. Founded in 2008, the small team at Presidio has covered hundreds of local sporting events and published thousands of articles connected to Santa Barbara’s athletic community. Please visit their website for more local sports news and information.

SB Tournament of Champions Preview

by Barry Punzal

P

arades and parties aren’t the only holiday traditions in Santa Barbara.

There’s also a high-level girls basketball tournament that adds to the spirit of the season in town.

The Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions annually includes many of the top girls basketball programs in the state. The four-day competition tipped off Wednesday at Santa Barbara High, San Marcos and Dos Pueblos. Visit PresidioSports.com for daily tournament updates and results.

The tournament is divided into a Gold and Green Division. The Gold Division features 16 elite programs. They’ll play in a bracketed format, with the semifinals set for Friday at 6 and 7:30 pm, and the final on Saturday at 7:30 pm at Santa Barbara.

The Green Division is a six-team, roundrobin event being played at San Marcos and Dos Pueblos. San Marcos, Santa Ynez and Providence Hall are the local teams entered.

They’ll be joined by Palmdale, Menlo and the Ventura JVs. Orange Lutheran is the top seed in the Gold Division. The Lancers (6-0) have a senior-laden team that figures to challenge powerhouse Mater Dei for the title in the Trinity League. They are ranked No. 1 in CIF Division 2A. Bishop Montgomery of Torrance, a perennially strong program, is seeded second. The Knights enter the tournament ranked third in Division 4AA. Nine of the teams in the Gold Division are ranked in the top 10 in their respective CIF Division.

Santa Barbara is tied for fourth in Division 3AA. The Dons opened against St. Bonaventure, No. 3 in Division 4A. The other CIF-ranked teams are Bonita (8th in 2AA), Rio Mesa (7th in 3AAA), Oak Park (2nd in 3A), Harvard Westlake (7th in 4AA) and Ventura (8th in Division 1A).

The rest of the field includes Peninsula, Bell-Jeff, Mira Costa, Righetti, Santa Monica, Dos Pueblos and Pacifica.

Dos Pueblos opened against Harvard Westlake.

Jim Bashore Holiday Classic Wrap-up: Royals, Dons decide tournament in first of four meetings

by Presidio Sports

I

n a crosstown rivalry boys basketball game played on a neutral court, Santa Barbara High came out stuck in neutral while San Marcos was running like a fine-tuned machine.

Host Carpinteria Warriors and eventual champion Royals met on the Bashore Tournament’s first day with San Marcos winning

Bishop Diego’s all-tournament selection Caleb Richey averaged 20-plus points in four games for the Cardinals

Santa Barbara and San Marcos met in Tuesday’s championship game. The Royals defeated the Dons in the first of four match-ups between the two teams this season.

The Royals raced out to a 22-8 firstquarter advantage and led 35-13 at halftime before holding off a Santa Barbara surge in the second half for a 60-54 victory in the championship game of Carpinteria’s Jim Bashore Holiday Classic on Tuesday night.

Kevin Hempy scored 16 points, 10 in the first half, tournament MVP Bryce Ridenour added 14 points and Uriel Hurtado chipped in 12 points, including a pair of clutch free throws in the last 30 seconds for San Marcos.

Matt Wagonhurst and Jack Baker each scored 12 points for the Dons, who trailed by as many as 25 points in the third quarter.

San Marcos played with more intensity and aggressiveness at the start of the game.

The Royals drove around defenders for easy baskets and continually beat the Dons down court in transition.

Santa Barbara, meanwhile, struggled to put the ball in the basket. A tip-in by Baker at the 3:38 mark was its only basket of the first period.

The Royals continued to run at a high pace and outscored the Dons 8-1 to start the second period, expanding their lead to 30-9.

San Marcos kept up the torrid pace at the start of third period and led 41-16.

A three-point play by Baker seemed to bring Santa Barbara out of the doldrums.

The Dons also got a boost when Hempy picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench at the 5:30 mark.

Now it was game on.

Santa Barbara cut the deficit to 16, 47-31 on four free throws by Noah Burke. Emilio

Paxton Ridgway fades away from Santa Barbara defender Matt Wagonhurst for a jump shot on Tuesday.

Gonzalez opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and suddenly the Dons started gaining momentum. They whittled the lead under 10 when Brendan Fay hit a 3-pointer to make it 51-43 with 2:54 left in the game.

Having committed only three team fouls with 1:50 left in the half, Santa Barbara started fouling. It finally put San Marcos in the bonus with 1:31 to go and Hempy sank both free throws for a 53-43 lead.

Isaiah Tapia canned a 3-pointer and Wagonhurst converted a three-point play to bring the Dons to within six at 5549 with 1:12 to play. The Royals lead got down to four after a wild sequence. Santa

Barbara stole the ball and threw up a shot to beat the shot clock. The ball hit the rim and came down to Wagonhurst who scored underneath to make it 55-51 with 55 seconds left.

Despite seeing its big lead disappear, San Marcos kept its cool and made seven free throws down the stretch and forced a turnover in the last 20 seconds to hold on for its first tournament title of the season.

Besides Ridenour being named MVP, Hempy was named to the all-tournament team. The rest of the team included Baker of Santa Barbara, Caleb Richey of Bishop Diego, Marcus Hutchinson of Carpinteria, Chad Broadhead of Cabrillo, Matt Willkomm of Arroyo Grande and Martel Tyler of Rio Mesa.

The Carpinteria Warriors won their final three games of the tournament.

After giving up a 17-point halftime lead on Tuesday, Carpinteria held off Nordhoff in the final seconds of Tuesday’s consolation championship 67-64.

Still clinging to a tiny lead, Xavier DeAlba drew a charging foul, Ian Craddock tracked down a key offensive rebound, and both Kyle Millhollin and Marcus Hutchinson drained two free throws in the final minute to help the Warriors hold on.

“After we lost the San Marcos game our goal was to finish the tournament above .500,” explained Warriors head coach Johnny Ward.

“Which means we had to win three straight and take out a tough opponent – whoever that might be – in the consolation championship, and we did that.”

“The kids are fired up. They’re working

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hard and they’re believing.”

The Warriors went 3-1 in their own tournament and hold a 5-4 record overall.

It was a positive step for a Carpinteria team that went 0-4 at the Bashore last season.

“It’s great,” Millhollin said. “It’s a big change for us. We can keep building on that change too. “Hutchinson and Millhollin ended with season highs of 20 points and 17 points respectively. Craddock added 14 points.

Gio Robinson led the Rangers, who outscored the Warriors 48-24 in the second half, with 18 points.

Bishop Diego finished 2-2 in the tournament.

Grant Sexton scored a season-high 24 points in Tuesday’s finale to lead Bishop Diego to a 64-47 victory over Cabrillo.

Sexton made three 3-pointers on his way to his 24 points. Caleb Richey, who was the Cardinals player named to the all-tournament team, added 22. Thomas Lash scored 10 and led the Cardinals in rebounding.

“We defended pretty well today so that was good,” said Cardinals head coach Dean Prophet.

The Cardinals rebounded from a 1-point loss to Channel Islands the day before.

“They bounced back today and played better but there’s room for improvement,” Prophet said.

The Cardinals (5-4) take a week off before facing Troy in the opening game of Santa Barbara High’s Holiday Classic on December 26.

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

17

All Tournament results can be found on PresidioSports.com.

Todd Rogers, Vom Steeg discuss college recruitment at Laguna Blanca event

by Presidio Sports

T

he often controversial subject of club sports and other key issues facing young athletes were discussed Monday night at Laguna Blanca’s Merovick Gym as part of an event titled, “Navigating High School Sports and College Recruitment.”

The 4-person panel of experts there to speak about successful sports careers were Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers, UCSB men’s soccer coach Tim Vom Steeg, Westmont women’s basketball assistant coach Meghan Gnekow and UCSB water polo coach John Abdou. Rogers and Vom Steeg were both coaches at Laguna Blanca in the 1990s, and Abdou is currently the school’s AP Psychology teacher.

Young student-athletes in grades 7-12 and their parents asked questions about whether it is important to invest in club sports, what the important features of a recruiting video are and more.

Rogers, a father of two young athletes, expressed his opinion that playing on a club team can result in an athlete burning out on that particular sport, and can also take away from opportunities to play multiple sports. However, he recently became a club parent due to his daughter’s wish to play and

Olympic volleyball player Todd Rogers, UCSB associate head coach for men’s water polo John Abdou, and UCSB men’s soccer coach Tim Vom Steeg visited Laguna Blanca on Monday to speak about what it takes to get a scholarship to play college sports.

admits that it is important from a recruiting standpoint.

Abdou and Vom Steeg said that they spend the vast majority of their recruiting time at club tournaments, where they can see numerous potential recruits play multiple games in a short amount of time.

Games between school teams, on the other hand, often feature just one or two potential college players. All panelists, however, expressed the important values to be gained from the high school sports experience.

Abdou also made a key point about the importance of being proactive for athletes who would like to play at the next level.

“Lots of people expect the limo to pull up and just offer them admission and a scholarship, but unless you’re in the top one percent of recruits it’s not going to be like that,” he said. “You need to reach out to the coaches and contact them directly. You need to be a strong advocate for yourself.”

The evening was the second of the fourpart “Think Now” speaker series hosted

by Laguna Blanca. The next event, “4Year Countdown to College,” will feature admissions experts talking about how to get a head start in the college planning process.

Visit lagunablanca.org for more information.

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18 | D E C E M B E R

21 – 28 | 2012

W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

Plan B

by Briana Westmacott Hailing from NorCal, Briana has lived in Santa Bar-

bara for the past fifteen years. While she is indeed an adjunct faculty member at SBCC and has contributed to LOVEmikana, Wake & Wander and Entrée Magazine, much of her time is spent multi-tasking her way through days as a mother, wife, sister, wantto-be chef and travel junky. Writing is an outlet that ensures mental stability… usually.

Mommy’s Little (Holiday) Helper

T

he holidays are a special time, filled with love and warmth, caring and compassion. It is a time we all really come together and bring the best out of one another. It is a joyous stretch of five or six (or seven) weeks, a wonderful season.

Most of the time.

The holidays can also be a parental nightmare, filled with misbehaved kids throwing over-tired fits in malls and at parties, or demanding sweets and treats and toys and gifts. Kids flatly refusing to go anywhere near jolly St. Nick, screaming and writhing around on the ground for all to see.

For all to judge.

Mercifully, though, some of us parents have discovered a secret weapon to aid in the fight against holiday-related bratty behavior.

To bolster our sometimes compromised positions. To help when all seems lost.

We’ve discovered the Elf on the Shelf.

And we’re not letting him go.

Threats and Bribes Work For 25 short days, we get to relish in the tiny nymph’s somewhat divine presence.

Used correctly, he quickly assumes the role of disciplinary master for each and every December day that leads up to Christmas.

His watchful, omniscient gaze, coupled with absurdly frequent admonishments to the children – “Stop beating each other senselessly, you guys, THE ELF is watching!” or “Maybe THE ELF will see you clean up your room and tell Santa!” – makes the holidays bright (brighter, anyway).

That raises an important point. Santa still oversees most of the holiday behavior and continues to hold the title of CEO over who is officially “naughty” or “nice.” But the Elf on the Shelf is around on a daily basis, continually reminding our sometimes saintly little souls that somebody is watching their actions. Judging them. And their gifts depend on it.

A Roadmap to Holiday Bliss So, for those of you out there who don’t yet know about the Elf on the Shelf, here’s how it works. Each night our tricky little friend mysteriously moves around the house. The kids wake up in the morning and search for him. They cannot touch him or move him in any way – they can only look at him. His job, in turn, is to report back to Santa the goings-on of any given day so that Santa can make an executive decision regarding each child’s conduct. That’s it. A simple game, folks, but an effective one.

The whole thing has a multitude of parentally advantageous side effects. His

Montecito family’s Elf on the Shelf – “Squiggly” – loves his marshmallow bubble bath.

Here’s Elffy hanging from a Mesa chandelier.

One family’s Elf on the Shelf apparently enjoys fishing.

inexplicable movement each night causes a terrific game of hide-and-seek every morning. (And when your kids fight over who found him first, just remind them that THE ELF is watching.) And it demonstrates to the children the magical powers the Elf possesses; it proves that s/he is, in fact, watching… and knowing.

There is a huge amount of power to be harnessed in the Elf. And parents all over town are not afraid to use it.

So I whispered in a few ears, made a few inquiries, if you will, about elves on the shelves of other Santa Barbara families in various area neighborhoods. It turns out that our little friend has been known to do some crafty and downright dirty deeds.

Downright dirty deeds, indeed.

San Roque Sinning It shouldn’t be surprising that the San Roque Elf has exhibited some extreme behavior. I heard he fashioned a zip-line from the fireplace to the Christmas tree in one house (always the adventure-seeker).

He’s also been known to raid the bar (not quite sure this is the best message for our young children). I even heard a report of a San Roque Elf actually coloring on children’s faces while they slept (he was found holding the evidence – a Sharpie pen – in the morning). Hmmm… sounds like my old days at UCSB. So go ahead, kids, act a fool. Good times ahead, my little dears.

Montecito Musings In a prank reminiscent of leprechaun activity on St. Patrick’s Day, one Montecito Elf turned a family’s toilets green and then took a marshmallow bubble bath to relax.

And in a moment of sheer brilliance, another MUS mom told her kids that their Elf has a cell phone for both in-bound and

out-bound emergency communicational purposes. Truly a parent’s dream: Immediate contact with an Elf in the event of a tantrum in a public place, and a corresponding call from the Elf to Santa. Priceless.

Mesa Mayhem There are a lot of fairy-obsessed children all over on the Mesa who love all things magical, and the Elf on the Shelf is high on their list. They leave him candy, make him friendship bracelets (one family reportedly has their Elf wearing his for two years now), and give him medicine when he is sick. He has been known to swing from the chandeliers (this must have been after he spent an afternoon at The Cliff Room), and has also occasionally covered lovely Mesa homes in toilet paper. Naughty little guy.

Goleta Groaning The Goleta Elf has had some trouble keeping to his nightly movings and doings – this can be tough on an Elf around the holidays, especially after spreading some holiday cheer. Some families reported that a daily “Elf alarm” is set on their phone and goes off nightly to alert the Elf monitor that s/he must report to duty. The idea here,

This Elf is effectively acting as a prison warden – the kids can’t turn the door handle to get outside. Brilliant!

Better be good – THE ELF is watching!

of course, is to avoid that morning where the Elf “forgets” to move. But, just in case, Goleta families reported a smorgasbord of excuses: “Honey, Elf must be real tired from doing all the toy construction for Santa” or “Maybe he had a real good view from his perch and decided to stay put for a day” or the favorite of many fathers, “Elf has a job, just like the rest of us, and sometimes he just needs a day of rest.”

EA – Elves Anonymous Ah, the joy of the holiday season. But, unfortunately, it can’t last forever.

Or can it?

It’s enough to lose the parental leverage of Santa after Christmas, but to see the Elf lost too could be catastrophic. We just can’t let him go. In fact, maybe this year we’ll throw a little tuxedo on our Elf and have him stick around until New Year’s (he would really appreciate ringing in 2013). That will give us six extra days. Then there’s MLK day and Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day – we’ll just keep dressing him up and hiding him around the house for a while. Not forever.

Just until we figure out how to parent again.

Naughty or Nice Naughty:

O

ne of my favorite local shops for pretty panties, pajamas and lingerie is A Tropical Affair (12 East Cota Street). Consider purchasing that treat or treasure for yourself and stuffing it into his stocking. Santa always knows what everyone wants, right?

Nice:

F

lower Empower is a terrific organization that is run by the Dream Foundation. It delivers fresh flowers to those in need in our community.

Create a bouquet yourself, and find even more pleasure in delivering it to someone who needs some cheer. Contact Valerie Banks at flowerempower@ dreamfoundation.org to volunteer.

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DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

WEEKEND GUIDE BE ACTIVE

Resolution Run

• LOVE IS FREE

by Sarah Dodge

I

by Kim Wiseley

A Nice Twist

Directions: - Line a baking sheet with wax paper.

- Melt approximately 6 ounces of chocolate in a bowl. Be careful not to overheat the

ADVERTISE

Lola Boutique Holiday Trunk Show 1221 State Street Saturday, December 22, 11am - 6pm Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets. And in this case Lola wants to have a Holiday Trunk Show featuring some of SB’s talented artisans.

Meet local designers (Hand of Oz Jewelry, Shai Shanti Scarves, and more), sip on local wines and win fun prizes.

What’ll It Cost Me: Free to attend. We can’t promise you won’t shop!

• LOOSE CHANGE What: Where: When: Why: How:

High Tea & Trunk Shows Bacara Resort & Spa – 8301 Hollister Avenue, Goleta Tea is served daily from 2 - 4pm thru December 30 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas) It’s high time you had a sophisticated afternoon. Pinkies up!

Sip a flight of tea from across the globe paired with delectable treats that include smoked salmon and caviar tea sandwiches. Afterward, guests can enjoy champagne and preferred pricing on this season’s newest designer styles.

What’ll It Cost Me: $35 for adults and $15 for kids.

• HEY BIG SPENDER

Why:

B

- Pretzels (rods, knots, twists, whatever!)

- Melting Chocolate (we used dark and milk chocolate candy melts by Wilton) -Toppings (sprinkles, mini-peanut butter and chocolate chips, nuts, toffee)

How:

What: Where: When:

WINE & DINE

Ingredients

What: Where: When: Why:

.com

f you haven’t given in to all the doomsday predictions looming over us, then you know the New Year is right around the corner. And since you never get a second chance to make a first impression, we’ve resolved to ring in 2013 on the right foot.

And the left foot.

Start your yearlong commitment to staying active by signing up for the Resolution Day 5K and 10K Run, set to take place on January 1 at Leadbetter Beach. Come join in the fun with all the other active do-gooders and start 2013 feeling strong, healthy and happy. We promise this feeling of athletic bliss will encourage you to keep exercising throughout the entire New Year.

Start the New Year off right with the Resolution Day 5K and Special Bonus: If you commit now, some 10K Run. good runs throughout the next few weeks will leave you feeling less stressed out and ready to tackle anything the post-holiday season throws your way. The guilt-free gift (or freedom) to eat, drink and be merry all year long isn’t so bad either. So go sign up for the run at sbrunning.org. You’ll be glad you did.

ored of making the same old sugar cookies? Dreading flour all over your floor? Here’s a nice twist to the holiday sweets you whip up annually: Chocolate Covered Pretzels. Just melt, dip, decorate and voila! You’ve got a little something salty and sweet to serve or give as a gift.

It’s perfect for your favorite teacher, boss, co-worker, and even the cute UPS guy... or coffee gal. Cheers!

by

How:

The Nutcracker The Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street Saturday, December 22 at 2pm and 7:30pm, and Sunday, December 23 at 2pm It’s all it’s cracked up to be! The State Street Ballet and San Luis Obispo Orchestra bring this enchanting and spirited classic to life.

Head to the land of snow and the kingdom of sweets.

What’ll It Cost Me: $21 - $103 Chocolate-covered pretzels: a new take on holiday treats.

chocolate or you will burn it. (Best to use or simulate a double boiler.)

- Dip the pretzels in the melted chocolate.

Use a pair of tongs to shake off the excess chocolate and place the dipped pretzel on the wax paper. Immediately decorate with toppings before chocolate cools.

- Place tray of pretzels in the refrigerator for a few minutes to allow to set and harden.

- Enjoy or package up with pretty wrappings and give as a gift.

Victoria Court 1221 State St.#13 805.845.5322

Mon. - Sat. 11-6 Sun. 10-3

Happy holidays to you and yours from LOVEmikana!

8 05.845.1673

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20 | D E C E M B E R

21 – 28 | 2012

W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

by Jana Mackin

A journalist and a poet, Jana has lived everywhere from New Orleans and Butte, Montana to Saudi Arabia, where she taught English to children.

Her articles have appeared in numerous publications, including The Washington Post and San Francisco Examiner. She now lives in Goleta.

Old Town’s Finest

T

he rare Marvy barber pole – a symbol of the old world barber-surgeon’s wind-blown bloody white rags – mesmerizes me with its counter clockwise spin outside Old Town’s Goleta Barbers.

I half expect to hear Benny Goodman’s “Bugle Call Rag” bopping to the role call of timeless barber chairs, ubiquitous mirrors, and barber stations accoutered with scissors, clippers and neck dusters, as well as jars of sapphire blue Barbicide disinfectant and Pinaud Clubman talc.

Such expectations are jarred (any pun intended) by the boom, boom, boom of rap as a few homeboys wait for their cholo du jour haircut: perhaps a fade, duck tail, Mongol top, a slick back, a shaved head, or the Stadium, an infamous cut in a hollowed ring to resemble a stadium. Of course, Goleta Barbers can do the mainstay buzz cut, trim or for the true conservatives, a crew cut or flat top. For Silver Screen retro, they can also style a simple side part.

The haircut repertoire of Goleta Barbers is as all-encompassing as the shop’s fusions of old time with 21st century homeboy hip.

I feel like singing “Shave and a haircut, two bits” while getting down to a big-booming base and wearing my game face behind Maddogger shades. (Yeah baby, I got my locs on!)

Raiders regalia abounds including Darth Raider’s skin-tight cheerleaders – sorry boys, no Vargas girl pin-ups here. There are lots of car and family photos, religious icons, a few other football team pennants as well, a Santa Barbara High School Golden Tornado football jersey, a burlap fabric

Left standing is Rapper George “Wicks” Guereca, seated center is Juan Carlos (JC) Ramirez, and right standing is barber and shop owner Pedro (Pete) Jimenez.

Visiting UCSB Asian scholar Sheng Zhang in the barber chair with barber Gabriel Guzman.

face of Jesus and a skin-head, punk rock, Ray Ban mannequin head. (I just can’t get enough of those mannequin heads.) All seem equally at ease with Boots, the shop’s pet ball python. In the shop’s bookshelf sits a Hamlet skull with the inscription, “Alas, poor Yorick!” (Yorick got fleeced by a bad haircut at some other barbershop.)

The shop’s eclectic library includes Pancho Villa, The White Path, Maya Cosmogony and International Theory of Law. Amongst all of that chaos, the multilingual Goleta Barbers banter and gossip above the universal language of buzzing clippers serving customers as diverse as a visiting Chinese scholar to a Spanish

Jets fan and youngest of the Goleta Barbers is Alex Diaz.

language rap artist. All are welcome by this eclectic barbershop quarter of tonsorial artists who don’t just cut hair, but transform the lives not just of the customers but the barbers themselves.

“From Lakers to clippers,” quipped barber Juan Carlos Ramirez, or JC.

Beto Aguirre, 70, loves the people, atmosphere and the shop. In fact, Pedro Jimenez calls him “Grandpa.”

Meet the Goleta Barbers About ten years ago, Pedro Jimenez (aka Pete) purchased the barbershop. He graduated from the Bakersfield Barber College in 2002, and believes the shop dates back to the late 1800s or early 1900s.

The Santa Barbara native learned the trader

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after he was injured working as a garbage man.

“I had to do something, pick up a trade,” said Pete, 33, “something that allowed me to be myself. We try to keep it the same as when I was a kid.”

Pete’s desire to retain the old is evident in his vintage barber chair that dates back to 1909. It still has the original strap that states “Cottage Hospital.” The chair has actually come full circle – it was manufactured by Theo A. Koch Company, a barber chair manufacturer, then used in the hospital’s pathology department.

Now it serves its original function as Pete’s barber chair.

“Dead people sat in that chair,” said Pete.

(Ah, weird… but cool, too.)

Setting dead people aside – they don’t need haircuts anyway – the barbershop is about life, laughter, gossip, barber customer banter and repartee, and lively discussions about the day’s events.

Barbering is much more than hair cutting and personal grooming. It’s about pride, self-esteem, and transformation of barber and client. For these barbers, a pair of clippers has cut a positive direction in what had been the torn fabric of their lives. Few subjects are verboten for discussion as the barber’s tattooed arms wield their clippers and opinions.

“We can talk with anybody about anything regardless of any subject,” Pete told me proudly, “we can give advice.”

He explained that when customers go to some chain places they miss the barbershop experience, plus the extra-added Jungian interpretation of mustache wax.

“People miss a good experience and a good haircut and free therapy.”

“We came from different directions, but we are connected together,” said barber Alex Diaz, 26. “We turned a negative into a positive. We were all going in the wrong direction. Now we are going in the right direction.”

Gabriel Guzman, another shop barber, explained that “it’s the vibe with us, good chemistry. We are able to talk about anything. We have our own opinions. We talk about anything going on in our life.

We ask our customers what is going on in their lives. We hope we relate empathy. It’s not just about the haircut, it’s about other issues. We help customers take issues off their shoulders. Pete and I have had our ups and downs – our life experiences. We relate to a wide variety of people.”

And all of the Goleta Barbers are involved in community service, often volunteering their time, wisdom and services for local at-risk youth. Gabriel has provided cuts for the homeless on Christmas day for years in his “Cuts for Success” program.

Very cool.

Smiling Happy People

The Marvy pole draws in a tentative Sheng Zhang, a visiting scholar in Department of East Asian and Cultural Studies at UCSB. (He is a professor at Tongji University in Shanghai, China.)

Zhang, 43, peeks in through the door

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

21

and asks Gabriel about a haircut. Next thing you know, the two are joking as Gabriel cuts the Chinese academic’s hair.

No language barriers here since everyone speaks fluent barbershop.

Grinning, Zhang said, “I am international guest. This is American cut.”

Speaking of language, local rapper George “Wicks” Guereca, 27, has been a barbershop regular since he was six or seven. The Spanish language rapper raps about positive issues and is a kind of correlative for the positive focus of the barbers and shop.

“I come here for the local spot,” said Guereca, who sports a shaved head. “It is home.”

Beto Aguirre, 70, worked at Santa Cruz Market in Santa Barbara for some 33 years. He also owned his own market, Betos Market, for another 22 years. During that time Pete worked for Beto.

“Pete calls me ‘Grandpa,’” said Beto.

“Goleta Barbers is a good little place, friendly. Everybody knows everybody who comes in here. It’s got a warm feeling.”

He paused then, and added nostalgically, “There is an old Mexican tradition. When a dad brings his boy in for his first haircut, it is free. It’s an old custom – the first one’s free. Pete honors that.” Beto smiled.

Just then, another customer, Tommy Aziz, 23, strolled in. “This is the best cut in Goleta. The barbers are great; the conversation is great, and the environment is great.”

That pretty much sums it all up.

Goleta Girl’s Picks

G

et your winter solstice on with “Solstice Unplugged.” Ring in a positive New Age with kirtan, mantras, and prana aplenty. Better Days Yoga will host this solstice happening on Friday, December 21, from 7 to 10 pm, at 7433 Hollister Avenue, Goleta. A $10 donation is suggested and bring something to share at the potluck. Call 805-770-2718.

A Charitable Holiday Artwalk to support Girsh Park will be held at the Camino Real Marketplace Saturday, December 22 and Sunday, December 23 from 10 am till dusk.

A percentage of the sales from the artists will go to support the park. Location is 7004 Marketplace Drive, Goleta.

Celebrate winter solstice at Bacara Resort & Spa. The celebration will be led by music professor and master musician Jim Grippo with all kinds of holiday activities.

It is scheduled every day from Friday, December 21 through Monday, December 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. The event is free. Bacara Resort & Spa is located at 8301 Hollister Avenue. Call 805-968-0100.

The Mercury Lounge will celebrate L’Eighties Night on Thursday, December 27 at 9 pm. DJ Darla Bea will spin hot ‘80s tunes. Drink Specials for the ladies. Dress up is encouraged. Located at 5871 Hollister Avenue, Goleta.

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22 | D E C E M B E R

21 – 28 | 2012

W W W. S A N TA B A R B A R A S E N T I N E L .CO M

The Weekly Capitalist

by Jeff Harding

Jeff Harding publishes The Daily Capitalist, a blog on economics and finance. He is the president of Montecito Analytics, LLC, and is a real estate investor who lives in Montecito.

Welcoming Potlatch Season

I

Ana R. Martinez DDS

This December we are donating 5% of our proceeds to CASA. We are helping assure a safe, permanent, nurturing home for every abused and/or neglected child in Santa Barbara County.

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always found the idea of giving gifts to family, friends, and even strangers an odd thing. Why do we do it? Is gift giving during Christmas and Hanukah a wasteful practice? Is it a harmless practice to bestow goodwill and joy on the ones we love? Is it a giant commercial venture by which retailers encourage us to part with dollars in an orgy of gift-giving by folks who ought to be guarding their earnings rather than spending them? Is it a necessary part of our economy that drives production and wealth?

Is it a religious act or simply an exuberant celebration of the material?

Almost all societies throughout time have celebrations that involve gift giving.

The native peoples of the Northwest had potlatch, which was an elaborate celebration in which one clan would prepare gifts – sometimes it took years to put it together – and hold a big party for another clan and bestow them with the entire output. Their point was to gain status and was seen as a religious observance. It would sometimes impoverish the donor clan, but status was more important.

Almost all these holidays and celebrations take place in the winter. The reasons are ancient and coincide with the winter solstice, that time when days become longer and there is the promise of new growth and rebirth. Clever folks, our ancestors. It was a good thing to celebrate once they figured out seasonality because it made their lives predictable and they could make longer term plans for hunting and farming. The Romans called it Saturnalia. They too gave gifts (on December 23). This planning enabled them to create greater material wealth for themselves, which enabled and ennobled their lives.

Wearing Speedos and Untying Tops Christmas and Hanukah celebrations represent more than one-third of annual sales for retailers. We are bombarded with advertisements for all that glitters. New TVs sail out the doors. Perfumers and jewelers have the greatest sales of the year. Trust me there is no religious quality to shopping.

Much less the TV ads. How about the perfume ad for Dolce + Gabbana where the young stud in a Speedo hops out of the water followed by a beautiful woman, and, as they embrace, the guys is untying her top.

Hmmm. Crass indeed.

Critics of this behavior decry it as gross materialism. We miss, they say, the significance of whatever religious observance they think is more important. Furthermore, it’s just wasteful.

I disagree.

It is fundamental to our human social

nature to celebrate. The critics are correct that it is materialistic, but there is nothing crass about materialism. The real reason to celebrate is because we see a future of possibilities that will bring us more material goods. Solstice is the origin, but for us here in America, seasons don’t have much to do with anything anymore unless one is a farmer, and there are far fewer of them these days. We celebrate because we have material things that make our lives better. We have food in abundance, clothing of infinite varieties, machines that do our work, homes with furnishings to keep us warm, gadgets and electronics that make our lives easier and more fun, beautiful automobiles and other means to get us anywhere we wish to go, tools of learning for any subject, unlimited entertainment, a medical system

“We celebrate because we have material things that make our lives better.”

that keeps us well. This is the material world and it is good. We ought to take time out to celebrate mankind’s progress and our wellbeing.

I know what you cynics out there will say.

Yeah, fine for you, but people go hungry and are homeless, folks can’t afford medical care, people are trapped in poverty, the elderly suffer, education is expensive, the cost of living too high… To quote the great Seinfeld, “yada, yada, yada.” Get a life if you don’t have one and celebrate what we have, not what we don’t have.

There is one thing I have learned that has given me some degree of success and that is you have to get out of bed every morning and think and do something positive. If you look at the world in a negative way, you won’t get out of that bed (figuratively, but maybe literally too). You have to be optimistic about the future and your life and think of the possibilities of what you can achieve. If you think a material life isn’t a reason to celebrate, think about why you are alive and the material things that got you here.

If you criticize our annual celebration of the material, then you are denying your own human nature and its capacity for success and joy. Just look around you and celebrate.

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REAL ESTATE

DECEMBER 21 – 28 | 2012 |

23

1050 Vista Del Pueblo, Unit 6

by Michael Calcagno Michael has consistently been ranked in the

top 1% of Sotheby’s agents worldwide. Shortly after joining Sotheby’s, he partnered with Nancy Hamilton to form one of the most successful real estate teams in Santa Barbara. Michael can be reached at Michael@ HomesinSantaBarbara.com

Condo-Fest

I

’ve done multiple articles now on single-family homes in the Santa Barbara area, but I’ve never focused on some of the great deals we have on condominiums and planned unit developments (PUDs) in the area. While many people shun condos as a consequence of their Home Owners Association (HOA) dues, what most people don’t factor in is tax credits they get for the HOAs and that most of them cover what most home owners have to pay anyway without associated write offs. Some of these items include insurance, exterior maintenance, water, etc. In short, condos and PUDs can actually have greater tax benefits than their single-family home brethren (on a pro rata basis, of course). Take a look at the following with that fact in mind.

984 Miramonte Drive, Unit 2

This 2-story, 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom unit is approximately 1,100 square feet, in good condition, and located on the north side of the complex with a nice private setting. The bedrooms are light and bright and have vaulted ceilings and picturesque views. There is a private back patio area perfect for entertaining or storage. This condo is centrally located with easy access to downtown, the beach and all Mesa shopping.

1050 Vista Del Pueblo, Unit 6

Purchase price: $509,000 Down payment (10%): $50,900 Loan amount: $458,100 Loan payment: $2,025

(30-yr fixed at 3.375% (3.43% APR))

Mortgage insurance estimate: $209 (Required when less than 20% down) Property taxes estimate: $466 HOA dues: $340 Total Monthly Payment:

$3,040

See great views of Santa Barbara from this lovely 2-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom townhome with approximately 1,100 square feet of living space. Conveniently located in the Vista Del Pueblo complex, the property offers updated flooring and carpet, a fireplace in the living room and an attached one-car garage with an additional parking space. HOA dues include trash, landscape, exterior maintenance and insurance.

400 East Pedregosa Street, Unit C

A downtown single-level condo with approximately 1655 square feet, this unit has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an oversized two-car garage with a generous floor plan. The property has a living room with a large fireplace and cathedral ceilings that opens to a dining room. The kitchen has been redone with granite counters and Viking appliances. The home also offers wood floors, plaster walls, a huge amount of storage, stereo throughout, air conditioning, remodeled baths, and sliding doors that lead to a private patio with a spa, as well as a pool and clubhouse.

984 Miramonte Drive, Unit 2

400 East Pedregosa Street, Unit C Purchase price: $900,000 Down payment (20%): $180,000 Loan amount: $720,000 Loan payment: $3,253 (30-yr fixed at 3.55% (3.61% APR))

Property taxes estimate: $825 HOA dues: $537 Total Monthly Payment:

$4,615

Purchase price: $389,000 Down payment (3.5%): $13,625 Loan amount: $375,385 Loan Payment: $1,633 (30-yr fixed at 3.25% (3.29% APR))

Mortgage insurance estimate: $391 (Required when less than 20% down)

Property taxes estimate: $356 HOA dues: $395 Total Monthly Payment:

$2,775

Mortgage statistics provided by Justin M. Kellenberger, Senior Loan Officer at SG Premier Lending Group, Inc. Justin can always be reached at justin@sgpremierlending.com.

Note: The foregoing economic breakdowns do not include potential tax benefit analyses since that will ultimately depend upon a number of additional factors. But home ownership can indeed have tremendous tax-savings potential and should be considered with your realtor and/or tax accountant as part of the ownership decision.

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